Hansi Flick’s new-look Barcelona defence faces a major test against Atletico Madrid

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Kickjolly · AI-written · automatically reviewed · Barca Universal ↗

Barcelona face a crucial La Liga match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday night, with Atletico just two points behind Barcelona in the league table. A win for Atletico would put them top. Barcelona are seeking revenge after last season's Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League losses to Atletico. The match is at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Barcelona's new defensive lineup, led by Hansi Flick, is expected to face a significant test. The likely back four includes Brian Farinas at right-back, Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin in the centre, and Joao Cancelo at left-back. Injuries have forced Flick to experiment, with Farinas and Cancelo playing out of position. Pau Cubarsi has been paired with different partners in recent games.

Atletico Madrid's attack is well-equipped to exploit Barcelona's defensive vulnerabilities, having done so in previous encounters last season. Atletico have several attacking options, including Alex Baena, Giuliano Simeone, and Julian Alvarez. They also have attacking full-backs like Marcos Llorente and Alejandro Grimaldo. Barcelona are expected to maintain a high defensive line and press aggressively.